Hardangervidda, Northern Europe’s largest high mountain plateau

In my privies post, I told you we took my mother in law for a trip from Oslo to Bergen. Going by car, it gave us all a chance to experience one of Norway’s most beautiful landscapes. From the deepest valley at sea level, to the highest mountains above 2 000 meters or 6 500 feet. Hardangervidda is a national treasure and includes Norways largest national park. It is the home of the largest herd of wild reindeer in Europe and is also the southern limit of many arctic plants and animals, such as the Arctic Fox and Snowy Owl. The park is also famous for its numerous lakes and streams with excellent mountain trout.

I start with a picture from the top of the plateau. It’s taken with my Nikon CoolPix camera. It’s late May, but still some snow left from the winter, although most of it will soon be gone with the long summer days ahead. On both sides of the road you can see some sticks. These are to show the snow plows where the road is during the snowy and windy winter season. Notice also there are no trees. The tree boarder or level are at 1 000 Meters or 3 300 Feet.

The rest of the pictures are as normal for my blog, taken with my mobile phone camera. We had to stop many times to capture the beautiful view. The trip one way is only 450 Km or 280 Miles, but we used 9 hours because we really wanted to take it all in.

I guess the most breath taking sight is the many waterfalls. Some far away in the mountains and some quite close. It’s so wonderful to see the elements showing their power, the water endlessly falling as there is more and more coming from the mountain top. That is also the reason why most of the electricity in Norway comes from natural waterfalls and why the price of it is relatively cheep.

Coming down from the mountain tops, there where farms up in the steep hills. One can wonder how they came up with the idea of settling there, but in Norway it has been that way for hundreds or even thousands of years. Some were so steep that you wonder why the sheep didn’t fall down, but then again as the farmers, they are great climbers.

There are also many deep valleys with more breath taking views. One time when we stopped to take some pictures, my mother in law said: ‘I get goose bumps’ by looking at this. As host we felt really happy that we had given her a thrill money can’t by :-)

Let me end this post with anther wonderful view. It was just outside the cottage we rented just outside of Bergen. The picture is taken at 10:30PM, at dusk. A taste of what the land of the midnight sun can bring you in May.

I would so like to see the herd of wild reindeer and the other arctic animals! That would seem so magical! You could almost picture a Santa-like mountain herder with them! (without the red suit of course!)

@MotherOfInvetion: I’ve seen some of those herds while walking in these montains, but more often up North in Finmark.

@Sidney: Nothing like pure nature you know. I use the camera on special trips or ocations and mobile phone in the daily life. Sometimes it become a mix you know:-)

@ExpatTravele: I recomands others to see you’re blog to notice the simularety in the landscape! Yes, the evening daylight is lovely, but it’s sometimes hard to get to sleep. But who bothers – you can always sleep in the winter time:-)

Great pictures! I want to visit Norway again. But the last time I was there (in 2003) I got a speeding ticket that I never paid. Do you think they will remember the next time I come for a visit? I wouldn’t want to be told that it will now cost me $3,000 to enter the country!

When I click on Create a Link on your site, is this for putting your URL on my links or mine on yours? (I’m trying to get yours on mine) Then, what do I do next, click Publish?Still trying to learn the basics!

@Buddy: As usual you really get the main idea behind my article.As for my sweatshirt: I bought it in Lake Placid as I wisit my family in Saratoga last fall. That place brings a lot of good Olympic memories to a Norwegian you know:-)

@Al: Glad you are safe and sound out of the hibernation:-) Yes, Hardangervidda is one of my favorite too and it was great to have my mother in law from the US with us!

@ExpatTraveler: Well, it takes some preparation and you have to be fit and prepared for a hike in this nature. But is is great when you are used to it!

@DZER: Just come over and I’ll teach you how to survive and even enjoy it – including the views!

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